ACA Responds to Cricket Australia Announcement

06 Apr 2018

Cricket Australia Chairman David Peever has today announced CA's intention to establish an "independent review" of CA's culture that will extend to the whole of its "organisation and governance issues".

Following the urgent investigation conducted by CA into player conduct in South Africa, CA has expressed a more cautious approach to establishing the review into its own culture, with details to be determined at a future point in time.

ACA President Greg Dyer reiterated the ACA's position on the independent cultural review.

"CA establishing its own review, selecting the reviewer and then having the findings of the review issued to itself - particularly as it relates to its own corporate culture - is far from transparent.

"It is also far from independent."

"We again call for the review to be commissioned by a Joint Panel made up of both CA and ACA representatives," he said.

"This is consistent with CA and the ACA being genuine partners in the game."

Following Steve Smith, Dave Warner and Cameron Bancroft accepting their harsh sanctions, Dyer said that this review also needed to ensure appropriate accountability at CA.

"The events of the past two weeks show that significant change is needed in Australian cricket," Dyer said.

"This independent review must ensure the necessary changes needed to improve the culture of the game."

"The ACA has represented the views of the players for more than 20 years and must take a joint position on this panel.

"It is only through joint ownership of the solution can cricket truly move forward."

Dyer and fellow ACA Executive Janet Torney earlier this week announced the ACA's proposed Terms of Reference for the independent panel and whilst no specific details of CA's review were provided by CA today, Dyer said that the ACA's proposed framework should be adopted.

"Accountability in the process and transparency in the outcomes must occur to restore faith in the cricket community.

"CA and the ACA need to work together in this process.

"We must all have faith that this review will drive the necessary changes in Australian cricket."

Commenting on the review into player 'standards of behaviour and expectations,' Dyer was complimentary of Rick McCosker who will lead this process, but was concerned by the lack of formal involvement of the ACA.

"Rick will bring a great level of knowledge of the game and leadership to his review of code of conduct and related issues.

"The ACA must also be formally part of this review, just as in the MOU negotiations, it is our role to represent the views and interests of our membership."

ACA Terms Of Reference

The ACA has previous suggested:

An independent person or group of people conduct a review into the culture of cricket in Australia. That independent person or group of people would report to a cross Cricket Australia and ACA Panel. The independent person or group of people would report to the Panel by October 1 2018 at the latest. The Review will:

1. Assess the state of the current culture of Australian cricket;

2. Examine the contributing elements to this culture;

3. Seek contributions from groups including Government, Cricket Australia, State Associations, Grade Clubs, Junior Cricket, and sponsors (past and present) the ACA, former and current generations of players;

4. Take submissions from the public;

5. Consider any other matters it deems relevant and

6. Make recommendations to improve this culture and review their implementation.